Crabapple bloom

Serviceberry

 

About Franklin Park Conservatory
Franklin Park Conservatory offers unique botanical collections, gardens, waterfalls, and educational programs designed to foster lifelong learning and appreciation of plants. The Conservatory features an original Victorian glass house built in 1895 and 73,000 square feet of greenhouses and classrooms situated in a 90-acre urban park just minutes from downtown. As part of its unique focus on combining fine arts with horticulture, the Conservatory is the only botanical garden in the world to own a signature collection from the internationally acclaimed glass artist, Dale Chihuly.

Franklin Park Conservatory is located at 1777 E. Broad St., Columbus, and is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students, and $5 for children ages 3 to 17. Members and children under 2 are free. All exhibitions are included in the general admission price. For more information, visit the Conservatory’s Web site at www.fpconservatory.org

by Barbara Arnold

Clashes between homeowners and utility companies have factored into the news of late, with some homeowners concerned about losing beloved trees in their yards. Nonetheless, we have to consider the bigger picture, not just the impact on the individual homeowner. A tree or branch could fall onto a transmission line leaving many without power. It is possible to please all parties by planting the right tree for the environment. The forward-thinking gardener can consider options that suit the landscape and work with existing utility lines.

When deciding on the right tree for the space, first consider the following questions: What is the tree’s mature height and width? How far out do the roots reach? Where are the utility lines? (This includes high voltage lines and the smaller neighborhood lines.) How far away are they?

Here is a short, selective list of trees that can work with utility lines. Keep in mind that even though these are listed as good choices for planting near power lines, the utility company foresters will make the final decisions about pruning and cutting.

* Amur Maple (Acer ginnala) is 15 feet to 20 feet tall and often grown multi-stemmed. This maple is adaptable to many types of soil and showcases red-orange foliage in the fall.

* Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum) is 25 feet tall with orange-brown exfoliating bark and red-orange foliage in the fall.

* Serviceberry (Amelancheir x grandiflora) reaches about 20 feet and can be grown as a tree or as a multi-stemmed shrub. Serviceberry has white flowers in the spring followed by red fruit, and in the fall the foliage turns bright red.

* Eastern Redbud (Cercis Canadensis) grows to be about 20 feet to 25 feet tall. This native tree has reddish purple flowers in the spring and the heart-shaped leaves turn yellow in the fall.

* Japanese Tree Lilac (Syringa reticulate) is 15 feet to 20 feet tall. In the late spring it has slightly fragrant, creamy white flowers and in the fall the foliage turns yellow, making it a nice tree to line the street.

* Corneliancherry Dogwood (Cornus mas) reaches approximately 20 feet to 25 feet. This multi-stemmed tree has very small yellow flowers in early spring, followed by cherry red fruit, and leaves that turn yellow to purple in the fall.

* Japanese Stewartia (Stewartia psuedocamellia) is 15 feet to 20 feet tall and upright in habit with an oval shaped canopy. This tree has white flowers in summer followed by red-purple foliage in the fall. The Stewartia does need a bit of protection from hot summer sun.

* Ornamental Crabapples (Malus spp) grow to be about 15 feet to 25 feet tall and, depending on selection, flowers can be white, pink or red. The fruit can be white, red, yellow, or even orange, and can be very messy so don’t plant the tree over the sidewalk or car. Select trees with disease resistance.

* Winter King Hawthorn (Crataegus viridis) is 20 feet to 25 feet tall. This tree has few thorns and silvery bark.

This hawthorn also has showy white but rather smelly flowers in spring, followed by red fruit in the fall that attracts birds. This tree is adaptable to a wide range of conditions. There are other species of hawthorns that will work, too, such as the Crusader Hawthorn (Crataegus crusgalli), so consider other options.

Before any digging you’ll need to contact the Ohio Utilities Protection Service at 800-362-2764. This should be done at least 48 hours in advance of digging but no more than 10 working days before beginning your project. Remember, it’s the law.

Plant far enough away from power lines and select trees and shrubs that remain sufficiently short to avoid the need for utility foresters to severely prune them. Slow growing trees need less pruning. If you want or need to plant a tall tree, remember to plant as far away from the lines as the tree’s mature height—it’s the “just in case” clause, meaning that if a tree’s mature height is 4 feet, it needs to be planted at least 40 feet away from power lines.

Plant smart by doing some research. Look carefully at the yard before you buy something new. Ask yourself, how big does it grow? How much water and sun does the plant need? Do my garden conditions suit its needs? Gardens should enhance the look of the house and make the gardener happy and relaxed. Just a side tip: Plant deciduous trees on the south and west side of your home to aid in summer cooling and allow some sunshine to hit it during the winter months.

 

To comment on this story, e-mail info@ourohio.org